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Camera
Talk

Just like the title implies, this page is just me talking about cameras.

I would be a horrible movie reviewer, because most of the reviews would start out with something like “I LOVED this movie” followed up by a few notes of this or that, but concluding with “I could watch it again, no question.”

I think a similar thing is going to happen here. Maybe that’s a good thing, as my goal is to share with you my rediscovered love of cameras, both film and digital, and what they can give you. I think the iPhone has reached a point that it can be called a camera, so who knows what Camera Talk will bring.

I now have, shall we say, a few cameras.

I enjoy them very much.

I’m not particular about what I shoot. I have Twin Lens Reflex cameras, my favorite being my Rolleiflex 2.8C. I am really enjoying the medium format Pentacon Six my girlfriend’s mom gave me. I shoot a lot of 35mm, both rangefinders and SLRs, my favorite these days being my Pentax MX. I really like finding old cameras, and toys, made of plastic. It seems I’ll shoot just about anything once.

I also have cameras I don’t like. I’ve bought many cameras, shot them, then sold them as they just didn’t thrill me.

Now that I’m living about an hour from Berlin, I’m enjoying finding old East German cameras in antique and thrift stores. There’s some great stuff out there. 

I know there are photographers out there doing amazing, creative stuff with old cameras. I keep it simple: I only shoot cameras that are formats where I can easily buy film, the exception being my Sawyers Mark IV and Yashica 44s, which shoot 127 (I found a guy who rolls it from 120 film. Meh…it kinda works and I’m hoping they reintroduce it).

I will tell stories of any camera I play with, and share with you the photos that camera gives me. I’ll do my best not to just shoot what’s in my back yard.

I’ll compare cameras, so you can see what each brings to the table that may, or may not, be unique.

I’m less interested in the specifications than I am about the user experience. I’m like the driver who wants to talk about how the car performs, not so much about the specifics of what’s under the hood.

With that, I’ll get back to writing another article about another camera I’ve been playing with.

Thanks for joining me.

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September 13, 2019
by Russell Viers

A Dope with an Olympus XA

As I learn to use these film cameras again (okay, any camera) I really think my nick name should be Dopey, Sir Dopalot, or, perhaps, The Dopester.Case in point: I somehow acquired this Olympus XA with
Cameras
35 mm
Film
Single Lense Reflex
Nikon
Mirrorless
Point and Shoot
Lumix
Kodak
Pentax
Stories
Toy Camera
Ricoh
Rangefinder
Twin Lense Reflex
Digital
Olympus
August 6, 2019
by Russell Viers

Double Double

I was driving along and the idea hit me. It was just like in the movies, where a beam of light comes through my sunroof and highlights my head. It was THAT good of an idea.I'm not saying I'm the ONLY
Cameras
35 mm
Film
Single Lense Reflex
Nikon
Mirrorless
Point and Shoot
Lumix
Kodak
Pentax
Stories
Toy Camera
Ricoh
Rangefinder
Twin Lense Reflex
Digital
Olympus
July 16, 2019
by Russell Viers

Rat Rod Pentax K1000

I woke up around 6:00 am this particular Thursday in June, and I headed straight for the coffee. While sipping my first cup, I perused Facebook Marketplace to see what was out there.Someone had advert
Cameras
35 mm
Film
Single Lense Reflex
Nikon
Mirrorless
Point and Shoot
Lumix
Kodak
Pentax
Stories
Toy Camera
Ricoh
Rangefinder
Twin Lense Reflex
Digital
Olympus
July 14, 2019
by Russell Viers

My First Twin Lens Reflex Camera

I blame Vivian Maier for my first Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera, a RicohDIACORD. Seeing her work and her selfies holding her Rolleiflex, I just HAD to try one out.
Cameras
35 mm
Film
Single Lense Reflex
Nikon
Mirrorless
Point and Shoot
Lumix
Kodak
Pentax
Stories
Toy Camera
Ricoh
Rangefinder
Twin Lense Reflex
Digital
Olympus
April 23, 2019
by Russell Viers

My Dad's Old Nikon FG Pulled Me Back Into the World of Film

I swore off shooting film cameras about 15 years ago. I packed my Nikkormats away and had no intention of EVER shooting anything but digital.
Cameras
35 mm
Film
Single Lense Reflex
Nikon
Mirrorless
Point and Shoot
Lumix
Kodak
Pentax
Stories
Toy Camera
Ricoh
Rangefinder
Twin Lense Reflex
Digital
Olympus